NFL Preseason 2024: Biggest Takeaways from Week 1 Games

Week 1 of the NFL preseason is an appetizer for the regular season.

Everyone wants a big bite of football goodness. But the preseason isn’t without merit. Young players get their initial professional reps, while veterans battle for jobs before roster cuts begin en masse.

Numerous first-round draft picks—including New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr., Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold and Baltimore Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins—dressed for the occasion. New head coaches Dave Canales (Carolina Panthers), Jarod Mayo (New England Patriots) and Raheem Morris (Atlanta Falcons) led their teams for the first time, too.

Also, the league’s new kickoff rule is now in full force.

The preseason means a new campaign, new faces and new rules. All in all, football is back, which is the most important thing.

Follow along throughout the weekend as Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski provides insight into the biggest storylines from the Week 1 preseason action.

New England Patriots Set Stage for Quarterback Expectations

The New England Patriots’ plan at quarterback is obvious. Jacoby Brissett is the starting quarterback until Drake Maye develops and takes over. Will it really matter, though?

Many teams decide not to play their starters during preseason, particularly in the opening contest. New Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo took a different approach. The Patriots’ top units took the field to open Thursday’s contest against the Carolina Panthers.

Brissett played one series, in which he overthrew his first target and underthrew a streaking Tyquan Thornton later in the drive. (The rain at Foxborough didn’t help.)

Maye, whom the Patriots chose with this year’s third overall pick, played the second series. He sandwiched an overthrow when targeting the middle of the field with a couple of checkdown completions.

Two things to keep in mind: First, New England’s top unit remained on the field when Maye took the reins. Second, the Panthers weren’t playing their projected starters, yet neither Maye nor Brissett was able to lead a scoring drive against a bunch of backups.

The final point is important regarding the Panthers.

Carolina Panthers Fail to Take Advantage of First Preseason Contest

Carolina was the NFL’s worst team last season. The franchise hired a new brain trust in general manager Dan Morgan and head coach Dave Canales after six straight losing seasons. However, the team did little to get better Thursday.

While New England played its starters for a couple of series, the Panthers made over 30 of their players inactive, including nearly all of their starters.

Three days earlier, Canales admitted the team’s offense remains a work in progress, per Anthony Rizzuti of the Panthers Wire, “…we’re not quite there right now in that regard.”

To no one’s surprise, the Panthers struggled. Carolina needed more work Thursday. Instead, Canales and Co. punted on the opportunity.

Hendon Hooker’s Debut for Detroit Lions Provides Promise

The Detroit Lions drafted quarterback Hendon Hooker with a third-round pick last year knowing that he needed a redshirt season after suffering a devastating knee injury late in the 2022 campaign.

Hooker is now fully healthy and staking his claim to be Detroit’s QB2. He didn’t seem hesitant whatsoever during Thursday’s debut against the New York Giants.

This preseason is important for Hooker to get his feet under him after missing an entire season.

“He just needs reps,” head coach Dan Campbell told reporters earlier in the week. “And it doesn’t matter if it’s us or it’s them or it’s a game, he just needs reps and reps and reps.”

Physically, Hendon is in a much better place. His ability to throw the ball has never been in question. But playing time is critical.

Even before Hooker’s injury, he played in a simplistic collegiate system that didn’t necessarily translate to the NFL. Hooker can build upon what he did in Week 1 of the preseason, continue to develop and possibly become the quarterback whom the Lions expected when they took a flier on him during Day 2 of last year’s draft.

Exciting Potential Can be Found in New York Giants’ Ground Attack

Whereas the Giants may be able to build around their run game, even after Saquon Barkley’s departure.

The running back rotation will look drastically different. However, New York may have a promising trio of ball-carriers.

Devin Singletary signed a three-year, $16.5 million contract to join Big Blue this offseason. Singletary has run for more than 800 yards in each of the last three seasons.

The options behind Singletary can provide an extra boost.

Both Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Eric Gray performed well in the Giants’ preseason debut. The two combined to carry the ball nine times for 78 yards. Gray provided two scores, including a 48-yard scoring romp.

Gray and Tracy were fifth-round draft picks in back-to-back classes. The two add some juice, as evidenced by their combined 8.7 yards per carry.

Wide Receiver Tank Dell Completes Houston Texans Offense

Yes, the Texans added Stefon Diggs via trade from the Buffalo Bills. Nico Collins is also coming off a 1,297-yard campaign. But Dell’s ability to separate and turn quick-hitters into big plays maximizes Houston’s offense.

Pittsburgh Steelers Rookie Linebacker Payton Wilson Is Ball Magnet

Rookie Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Leads the Way for Atlanta Falcons

A pair of rookies were on display in Miami as the Dolphins hosted the Atlanta Falcons in their preseason debuts.

Michael Penix Jr. may have been the most controversial selection in the 2024 draft class, but the Falcons’ brain trust is lockstep in wanting to have a quarterback succession plan in place after flailing at the game’s most important position during the previous two seasons.

With veteran Kirk Cousins inactive for the contest—though he stated he’ll be good to go for Week 1 despite last season’s ruptured Achilles tendon—Penix played the entire first quarter. The rookie completed 9-of-16 passes for 104 yards, including a 41-connection with Chris Blair long before the single-high safety could work his way over the top.

Atlanta doesn’t expect this year’s eighth overall pick to play much this season. That’s OK. Cousins is the starter. But extended playing time during preseason provides vital reps and looks at what Penix can eventually be.

Defensive Backs Take Center Stage for Philadelphia Eagles

Though Philadelphia should be as excited, if not more so, by Kelee Ringo’s performance.

The early draft investments in Mitchell and Cooper DeJean showed the Eagles wanted to get younger and more talented among their defensive backs. Ringo didn’t play much as a rookie after being a fourth-round draft pick. But he showed good tenacity and coverage skills against the Ravens, with a pair of pass breakups.

Cornerback depth is always a good thing.

In the case of the Ravens, three-time Pro Bowl Marlon Humphrey has dealt with significant injuries in two of the last three seasons (torn pectoral and foot surgery). Wiggins looks ready to slot into the lineup if something else were to occur. Otherwise, he’s going to be an excellent third option alongside Humphrey and Brandon Stephens.